§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the income limits for payments of national insurance contributions for 1979–80; and what would be the extra revenue if these limits were abolished.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe earnings and profits limits for national insurance contribution liability for 1979–80 are:
£ Class 1 weekly lower earnings limit 19.50 weekly upper earnings limit 135.00 £ a year Class 2 (flat rate for the self-employed)—exception from liability may be granted where earnings from 6 April 1979 to 5 April 1980 are expected to be below 1,050 Class 4 (earnings.related for the self-employed)—payable on profits or gains between 2,250 and 7,000 If the class 1 and 4 limits were abolished, the extra revenue for 1979–80, including the surcharge on class 1 contributions, would be £730 million on the assumptions used in the Government Actuary's report on the 1979–80 contribution rates, Cmnd. 7403. It is not possible 297W to give an estimate of the effect of removing the lower limits, since it is not clear what contributions structure is envisaged.